A thick, fat maggot has been washed out of the earth on the former compost heap. The male Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) had only briefly scratched the surface with its yellow beak and had already very skillfully removed a thick maggot – probably a large beetle larva – from a dark-black layer of earth. It is astonishing how unerringly the Blackbird approaches two sites and then, after scratching no more than three times, one prey is exposed. Nevertheless, the bird is careful and only grabs the maggot by the black head at first and then quickly drops it again. After the Eurasian Blackbird has obviously convinced itself of the relative harmlessness of the prey after several procedures, the maggot is grabbed and tumbled at the head-body transition. Finally hunger outweighs fear and the maggot disappears upside down in the Thrush’s beak.

Now only the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) are interested in the feeding place. Somewhat unpleasant, the otherwise successful Eurasian Blackbird joins in from time to time and pursues the House Sparrows. Sometimes – when the Sparrows are outnumbered – the Eurasian Blackbird also have to pull out. Blackbird are what are commonly called “normal” birds. But her behavior always offers surprises and is also good for a few nice action shots. Before that, it was nice to see a furious chase of a Eurasian Blackbird to drive away a Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) that might have come too close to the nest. The Titmice (Parus sp.) appreciated it as well.

It was a pretty fresh morning after it had finally rained in southern Brandenburg in the night. In the morning it was only around 8 °celsius degrees. Later in the sun it was warmer of course; around 16 ° C. A wood chopper is always headed Continue reading Blackbird with a thick maggot in the beak →